Blank Date Field from a Form into a SharePoint list causing Errors

[conorsanchez]

Hi, I've been creating a simple flow to get response data from a Microsoft Form into a SharePoint list. I'm having an issue with a date value when it is left blank in the form. 

I am getting the error: The 'inputs.parameters' of workflow operation 'Create_item' of type 'OpenApiConnection' is not valid. Error details: Input parameter 'item/DateofBirth' is required to be of type 'String/date'. The runtime value '""' to be converted doesn't have the expected format 'String/date'.

I've created a few of these flows in the past and used the 'if(empty' expression before which has worked specifically for this issue with other dates. However today I've tried to create a flow and I'm getting the error pop up even after trying different methods suggested on the forums. I've checked my other flows and they seem to be working correctly with this expression so I'm a bit confused to why it isn't working.

Here is a screenshot of the flow and SharePoint list (I have only left the Date of Birth field in PA for testing purposes but there are several more dates in the form)

One thing I noticed is that when selecting the dynamic content in the expression it puts in: 

'body' before get response details rather than 'outputs' which is what the other flows have.
But when setting up the other flows I used the same method but checking today they look like this: 

if(empty(outputs('Get_response_details')? 

However I've tried both variations and both give the same error message

I've checked and recreated the DOB question on SharePoint and the Form, both of which are in the correct format (Date).

Also weirdly after testing for a while the flow worked for about 5 minutes but after adding some more of the responses to the flow it suddenly stopped working again.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[creativeopinion]

@conorsanchez Your expression looks correct. I would recommend sticking with the Classic Designer as the New designer seems to have some bugs.

Use a Manual Trigger

I've ran a test on a form submission so I could get the Response ID. This way I can replace the flow trigger with a manual one. This helps to speed up the flow building process so you can run tests without having to wait for a response to be submitted.

Compose the Expression

I'd recommend using Compose actions to store your expressions. This can help with troubleshooting. As mentioned above, your expression looks correct. 

Insert the empty() function. 

Click on the dynamic content tab and insert the output from the form field storing your date.

Run a test. Review the results. I purposely left my date field blank—result is what I'm expecting.

For anyone who may stumble across the post—reference this section of a YT Tutorial I recently uploaded where I cover how to build an expression using the equals() and if() function. This same concept applies to this scenario.

I cover the following in this full video tutorial:

✅ How to get a Microsoft Form Response into SharePoint

✅ How to get a Microsoft Form ID

✅ How to get a Microsoft Form response

✅ How to Build a Microsoft Form with Conditional Fields

✅ How to used Branching in Microsoft Forms

✅ How to format Microsoft Form multiple choice responses for a SharePoint multi-choice column

✅ How to parse a Microsoft Form multiple choice response as string of text

✅ How to convert a text response to a number

✅ How to use the Switch action

✅ How to create a custom email confirmation for a Microsoft Form submission

✅ How to Create a Custom View in a SharePoint list

✅ How to use the Compose Action

✅ How to write Power Automate Expressions

Edit the Expression

Wrap the entire expression in an if() function. The if() function takes three parameters. The first parameter is a condition that returns a boolan value (aka true or false), the second parameter is the value that is returned if the condition is true. The last parameter is the value returned if the condition is false.

Click on the expression label to edit the expression. At the start of the expression enter if with an opening parenthesis.

Press the down arrow key to go to the end of the expression. Add a comma. To prevent the flow from failing, you'll need to set the value to null if the date field is empty. Tip: The tooltip displayed when you are editing an expression will help guide you on what parameter you are currently defining.

Enter null for the true value (aka if the date field is blank, set the value to null). Add another comma.

Insert the false value.

Select the dynamic content tab and select the appropriate date dynamic content from the Get response details action.

Add a closing parenthesis.

Run a test. Review the output. You should see a Click to download link (even though the link is empty). Repeat this step for each of your date fields in your form. Run tests to ensure that you are getting the appropriate output. Tip: Submit another form and adjust the Response ID to the next sequential number.

Create Item

Inset a Create Item action. 

Insert the output from the Compose action storing the expression.

Run a test. Repeat this for each date field in your form.

Replace the Trigger

Replace the trigger in your flow with the When a new response is submitted trigger. Insert the Response Id dynamic content into the Response Id field.

Run a test.

Hope this helps!

If I helped you solve your problem—please mark my post as a solution ✅.
Consider giving me a 👍 if you liked my response!

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If you are looking for a way to send multiple SharePoint List items that have been assigned to a user in an email—check out this YT Tutorial: How to Send a SINGLE EMAIL ✉️ with multiple SharePoint list items | Build THIS Power Automate Flow

In this tutorial I cover:

✅ How to send multiple list items in a single email with a Power Automate Flow

✅ How to create a dynamic date range

✅ How to use the Convert Time Zone action

✅ How to use a Filter Query in the Get Items action

✅ How to count number of items in an array

✅ How to use the Select action to extract a users display name and email address

✅ How to create a unique list of email addresses

✅ How to use the Create HTML Table action

✅ How to customize the HTML Table with CSS styles

✅ How to use the Send an email (V2) action

✅ How to use the Append to String Variable action

✅ How to create a custom list of items for an email

✅ How to use the Send an email (V2) action

✅ How to display singular or plural text based on the number of items returned

[Shizzane]

Thank you so much! 😁

I was having a very similar issue and switching back to the classic designer seems to have fixed things. 🤞

It was so bizarre that the core functionality seemed to have suddenly turned off and there was no logical explanation, I figured it must be something in the developing environment...what a week its been.

The formula I had been using was 

if(equals(split(item(),',')?[0],''),null,split(item(),',')?[0]) and the null was being ignored, the inputs would be "" instead of null,

Issue example = Input from same code using new designer, Field 17 & 20 are "" instead of null, also I had resorted to enter a dummy date.

Fixed Example = I rebuilt everything the same using the classic designer again and the results are below, 

Thanks again!

[JOAS_Niels]

Thanks for this solution! Took me some time, but after rebuilding the flow in the classic designer resolved the issue for me too. Nasty bugs in the new designer.